DeKalb Times

In a June 7 Facebook post, Illinois Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) voiced doubts about the 2023-2024 state budget.

"Questions remain about whether the new budget will be truly balanced at the year’s end due to underestimating spending obligations throughout the budget," the senator wrote.

Free healthcare for immigrants is one of the factors that concerns Syverson. The Pritzker administration massively under allocated the program, which was funded at $550 million, when the estimated cost is $1.1 billion, Syverson wrote.

“The shortfall for funding this one program alone will make the budget unbalanced. That number is just the cost for adult undocumented healthcare. In addition to providing adult healthcare to the undocumented population, Illinois is also covering the cost of children’s healthcare, housing, cash assistance, daycare, education, and other social service programs,” Syverson said. “All of these programs are growing at unsustainable levels and will lead to crowding out current human service programs and to future tax increases to cover the shortfalls.”

In a June 9 week in review, Syverson expressed disappointment that the state's sales tax on groceries is set to be reinstated on July 1, and this is just an added cost for Illinois families who are already struggling.

“With just a $100 million surplus, which is minimal in a $50.6 billion budget, it is doubtful there will be sufficient revenues to cover the true costs the state will incur,” Syverson said. “Additionally, Illinois’ budget has increased by $11.1 billion since Pritzker took office. This record amount of spending is not sustainable and leading us toward massive future tax increases.”

Syverson is a life-long Illinois resident who has been a member of multiple chambers of commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and National Association of Financial Planners. He has served on a variety of committees, including Appropriations- Health and Human as the Minority Spokesperson; Behavioral and Mental Health; Health and Human Services as the Minority Spokesperson; Insurance as the Minority Spokesperson; Licensed Activities; Local Government; and Public Health.